Top 10 Beaches in Guatemala

Guatemala is renowned for its ancient pyramids emerging from the jungle, charming colonial towns, vibrant buses, rich Mayan heritage, robust coffee, and stunning volcanoes towering over tranquil lakes. However, its beaches often remain overlooked.

While Guatemala's beaches may not enjoy the same fame as the enchanting shores of Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, or the island beaches of Belize and Honduras, there are numerous beautiful coastlines waiting to be explored. With warm coastal weather year-round and a long dry season from November to April, finding the ideal sunbathing spot is a breeze.

A few tips before you hit the beaches: be sure to pack flip-flops or sandals, as the black sands of the Pacific coast can be too hot to walk on barefoot—think lava! Also, don't forget insect repellent, as sandflies and chigger mites are common and can leave uncomfortable bites.

While wearing a bikini at the beach is perfectly acceptable, going topless is frowned upon. Keep a watchful eye on your belongings—it's best to leave valuables at your hotel to fully enjoy your time in the water and on the sand. Don't let any of this deter you from visiting Guatemala's beaches! Here are the top sandy spots to explore.

1. Playa Blanca

Ideal beach for Caribbean ambiance

Playa Blanca is the premier beach along Guatemala's Caribbean coast, located about an hour's boat ride northwest of Lívingston. The only way to access this beautiful spot is by boat, so the simplest option is to book a tour through a travel agency in either Lívingston or Puerto Barrios.

What makes Playa Blanca so unique? The name translates to 'white beach,' and it truly lives up to its name with a stunning stretch of light sand and an abundance of coconut trees. Although Guatemala's Caribbean beaches face erosion, Playa Blanca offers a cozy spot where you can sip a beer from the beachside restaurant while enjoying the gentle waves lapping at your toes.

As the beach is privately owned, ensure your tour package covers the admission fee. Many tours also include a visit to Siete Altares, featuring a series of charming waterfalls and natural rock pools nestled in the nearby jungle.

Planning Tip: The water clarity at Playa Blanca is influenced by the weather. After rainfall, the water can become murky, so aim to visit during the drier winter months for the best experience.

2. Playa Punta de Manabique

Best beach for ecotourism

Located approximately 20 km (12.5 miles) north of Puerto Barrios, the Punta de Manabique peninsula's rainforests are home to spider monkeys, howler monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, and peccaries. You can also find green iguanas, manatees, and crocodiles among the mangroves, along with over 300 species of birds. Additionally, there are secluded beaches that offer a tranquil escape.

The beaches in this area are long and slender, featuring rough seas on the eastern side and calmer waters to the west. From June to December, sea turtles come ashore to nest. Playa Punta de Manabique, located near the peninsula's tip, is the ideal spot for visitors, offering rustic lodging and dining options.

This narrow beach has light beige sand, often scattered with driftwood and coral fragments from the offshore reefs—the only coastal reefs in Guatemala. A long dock serves as a launching point for snorkeling in the serene waters.

Planning Tip: The most convenient way to reach Playa Punta de Manabique is by booking a tour with a travel agency in Puerto Barrios or Lívingston. For a more independent journey, you can rent a boat at the public dock in Puerto Barrios.

3. Playa Dorada

Best beach for watersports

Playa Dorada, meaning 'golden beach,' truly lives up to its name with its soft golden sands and small pebbles lining the shore. Nestled on the southern side of Lake Izabal, between the villages of Izabal and Mariscos, it features palm trees, crystal-clear water, and inviting palapas for shade.

The tranquil waters make this beach ideal for swimming, but be aware that it’s a favored weekend destination for water enthusiasts. You can find everything from kayaks and jet skis to banana boats and water bikes available for rent. Numerous restaurants and accommodations are situated in the village behind the beach.

4. Playa Amatique Bay

Best beach for the all-inclusive resort experience

Amatique Bay Hotel near Puerto Barrios stands out as one of Guatemala's premier all-inclusive resorts, featuring attentive staff, luxurious accommodations, and a wide range of activities from horseback riding to beachside massages. The resort is cleverly designed to ensure that the sounds from the pool area, which includes water slides, don't disturb the tranquility of the guest rooms, all set against a beautiful beachfront.

An ancient stone lighthouse, flanked by cannons, overlooks a secluded beach where the soft sand transforms into an impromptu soccer field or beach volleyball court when enough players gather. A small creek and marina create slightly cloudy waters, but the sea remains calm, perfect for fishing, kayaking, or enjoying a ride on a giant inflatable banana, all while taking in stunning views.

Planning Tip: The resort features a variety of rooms and suites along with two on-site restaurants, allowing you to escape from the outside world. You can reach it from Puerto Barrios by taxi; the resort is located just a few kilometers north of the airport.

5. Playa Tilapa

Best off-the-beaten-track beach

If you’re looking to steer clear of tourist crowds, Playa Tilapa in the fishing village of Tilapa, located just a few miles south of the Mexican border, offers a peaceful escape. This beach is secluded enough that you might enjoy the expansive shore and tidal pools all to yourself. While accommodation choices are limited, there are numerous decent dining options. Local fishermen might also sell you fresh catches from their day’s work.

A network of canals and the Río Naranjo prevent direct access from the village to the beach, so you'll need to hop on a boat from the municipal dock, where boat operators await passengers. The scenic ride through the mangroves takes about 10 minutes. There’s a beach cabin available for rent and a few restaurants located just beyond the shore.

6. Playa Las Cristalinas

Best beach for volcano views

Is Guatemala known for its crystal-clear waters? Not quite along the coast, as pollution and runoff can cloud the waters, especially in the rainy season. However, certain inland spots, like Playa Las Cristalinas—meaning 'the crystalline beach'—on the shores of Lake Atitlán, often feature clear waters.

Playa Las Cristalinas is one of the finest swimming spots by the lake and among the cleanest. While the sand is more like fine gravel, making it better for splashing than for sandcastle building, the location in the Guatemalan highlands offers respite from the coastal heat and stunning views of three volcanoes.

Planning Tip: This beach sits roughly midway between San Pablo La Laguna and San Juan La Laguna, and you can easily walk from either town. Alternatively, consider a tuk-tuk, chicken bus, or arrive by private boat or rented kayak. A restaurant offers basic dishes like hearty grilled sandwiches.

7. Iztapa

Best beach for fishing

Once Guatemala's main port until the establishment of Puerto San José about 15 km (9.3 miles) up the coast, Iztapa features a picturesque black-sand beach—more of a sandbar—bordered by a flowing river. While it offers decent surfing, Iztapa is particularly known as a fantastic base for whale-watching, with fishing being the top draw.

Iztapa ranks among the premier locations in Guatemala—and globally—for catching sailfish. This area has seen world records set, and experienced anglers report an average catch of 15 to 25 sailfish in a day, with a strong emphasis on tag-and-release practices.

Planning Tip: The town boasts a solid tourist infrastructure, featuring various appealing hotels and resorts, many of which cater specifically to anglers and can organize fishing excursions for their guests.

8. Monterrico

Best beach for sunset viewing

A quick trip from Guatemala City, Monterrico is a beloved getaway for capitalinos, with many affluent visitors owning vacation homes alongside some of Guatemala's finest beach resorts.

Monterrico features one of the premier black-sand beaches along the Pacific Coast. It remains peaceful during weekdays but gets quite crowded on weekends and during Holy Week. The ideal time to visit is at sunset, when you can enjoy the breathtaking view as the fiery sun descends without the black sand burning your feet.

Rather than gazing straight out at the ocean, shift your gaze slightly to the right to catch the sun's reflection on the water as it rolls onto the beach. You might even spot the silhouette of a surfer framed by hues of pink, orange, and yellow.

Monterrico is approximately a three-hour drive from Guatemala City via the Iztapa route. For a more adventurous journey, consider heading to La Avellana and taking a ferry through the nature reserve's canals to reach Monterrico town; the ferry even accommodates chicken buses.

Detour: During turtle season, from June to December, Tortugario Monterrico releases baby turtles into the sea. It's important to avoid handling hatchlings, especially without gloves, as this can stress them and increase the risk of disease transfer between turtles and humans. Instead, consider making a donation and let the staff manage the hatchlings.

9. El Paredón

Best beach for surfing

Nestled with dirt roads and thatched-roof houses, the small town of El Paredón embodies the quintessential laid-back Central American beach vibe, featuring the same black sand typical of many Pacific beaches in Guatemala. However, its main attraction is the consistent surf. If you're in search of beach resorts in Guatemala designed for surfers, El Paredón is your destination.

El Paredón caters to surfers of all levels. The waves are dependable year-round, and the beaches generally aren't crowded. Surfing is a core part of life here, with nearly every hotel providing board rentals. If your accommodation doesn’t offer surfing lessons, they can easily arrange them with local surf schools.

For a change of pace, head to Sipacate-Naranjo National Park, located just west of the town. Here, you can relax on sandy beaches or venture into the mangroves and lagoons. The park is home to over 90 bird species, along with both freshwater and sea turtles.

Planning Tip: Although you can reach El Paredón via a tourist shuttle from Antigua, the town maintains a distinctly relaxed atmosphere. Wi-Fi can be unreliable on good days, and on bad days, forget about online surfing—just enjoy the waves instead.

10. Sipacate

Best beach for variety

Just a short boat ride from El Paredón but over an hour by road, Sipacate is an excellent choice for those seeking a livelier surfing scene. Although it remains a small town, Sipacate provides more accommodation and dining options, with waves that are reliable year-round.

Sipacate ranks among the top surfing beaches in Guatemala, suitable for surfers of all levels. If you need a break from the waves, the canals behind the beach offer fantastic opportunities for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and birdwatching.